Electric-starter clutch mechanism.



W. T..HENSLEY. ELECTRiC STARTER CLUTCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 5.1914.

Patented Nov. '36, 1918.

county, New Jersey,

' gine shaft with I UNITED snares PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM T, HENSLEY, OF BOUNDBRUOK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, I83. MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO BOUND BROOK ENGINE & MFG. (30., A CORPORATION OF DEIJA.ABE.

ELECTRIC-STARTER CLUTCH MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nor/32$, 31918.

Application filed october 5. 1914. Serial No. 864,984.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM T. a citizen of the United States of and resident of Bou'ndbrook,

(residence address 229 Mountain avenue,) have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric- Startcr Clutch Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic clutches for connccting an internal combustion en the motor generator of an electric starter for automobiles, motor boats or other vehicles. A clutch of the general character to which my invention relates is disclosed in my prior application No. 831,638. filed April 13, 1914:; and in the operation of a starter of this character, as fully explained in said co-pending application. the clutch in question must be constructed to first transmit power from the motor-generator (operating as a motor) to the engine shaft, for the purpose of starting the engine, and to then transmit power from the engine to the said dynamo electric machine (operating this time as a generator) for the purpose of charging the storage battery from which electric current is derived for starting the engine. My invention relates more particularly to that portion of the clutch which is necessary for transmitting power from the motor generator to the engine shaft, in starting the engine, but which is thrown out of action and automatically rendered inoperative as soon as the transmission of power is reversed-that is to say. as soon as the engine begins to drive the generator to charge the storage battery.

Generally stated, therefore, the object of my invention is to provide a novel and satisfactory clutch mechanism of the foregoing general character. for the purpose stated, having a construction and mode-of operation designed more especially with reference HENSLEY, America,

to the transmission of power from the.

motor-generator to the engine. for starting the laltcr. and whereby certain objections.

Somerset with a ball bearing (1 held on the ring a considerable extent at least,

in a simple and ciicctive manner and without interfering with the other functions of the clutch.

my invention consists in matters hercinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a section on line 1-1 in Fig.

showing certain portions in elevation, and

showing certain portions broken away for convenience of illustration, of an electric starter clutch mechanism embodying the principles of my invention, for use between the engine shaft and the motor generator of the starter.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 in Fig. 1.

As thus illustrated, my invention comprises the 'one clutch member A, which is provided with a hub portion (1 adapted to be keyed to the engine shaft. and the other clutch member B which is loose on said shaft. To permit one member to rotate relative to the other, and in order to combine the two members in one unitary clutch structure. the member B. which is in the form of a sprocket wheel or belt pulley. is mounted to turn on the huh (I. the latter being provided circumfercntially thereof to reduce friction between the two members. The periphery of the member B is provided with sprocket teeth I), or with any other suitable means. for connection by a sprocket chain or hell or other means with the shaft of lhc motorgenerator (notshown). it being understood that this motor-generator and its conucction to the member B may be of any !lli:ll)l( known or approved character. those being shown in my said prior applicaticm. A friction ring 5 is secured to the inner face of the member B, by pins 5 said ring encircling said ball bearing. A friction ring of larger diameter, such as the ring or band a is secured to the member A. being arranged to encircle the ring 6 it being ren'iovably which is integral with the member A, and which disposed be tween the two friction rings a and bflfthe wings a and a being keyed together by fine a", or by any other suitable means.

The ring'o is provided with recessesa at intervals along the inner circumference thereof, which recesses m efiiect provide cams o each cam being in the form of a bearing surface which is tangential to a cir cle having an axis coincident with the axis of the engine shaft. At their endswhich are farther away from the axis of rotation, each cam is provided with a pocket (4; and

between each cam and the ring I) a roller a verse direction) the said roliers a are caused B in starting the engine;

to travel along said tangential cams 'lll the direction of the shoulders a, whereby said rollers become tightly wedged between the cams and the ring, 71 thus causing the member A to rotate positively with the member After'the engine is started, the transmission of power is then from the member A to the member 13, and consequently the rollers a are thrown out of clutching engagement with the ring 5 andso far as these rollers are concerned the member A may rotate without communicating any power to the member B, and without driving the motor generator; for at such time the rollers are caught by the pockets a and held out of engagement with the ring (2 in a manner that will be readily understoodfl The brake shoes 12 of any suitable character, are pivoted at I), by means of their springy arms 7), and by means of a removable screw 5 inserted through the junction of said arms and into the member B, each brake shoe being adapted to bear upon the ring a for the purpose of driving the member B after the engine has started. The two brake shoes are connected together at their other ends by means of a spring 71 these Springs 7) and 7) resisting centrifugal action to yieldingly hold the brake shoes on the friction ring. In other words, and during the rotation of the clutch, the said'brake shoes I) are thrown outward by centrifugal force, or tend to move outward and this tendency is yield ingly opposed by the said springs,

pressure of the shoes on said ring, and vice verse; and in this way the motor generator whereby" the greater the speed of rotation the less the member of the clutch which is fixed on the engine shaft. From the foregoing it will. be seen that the rollers'a, and also the brake shoes 6 are in action when the motor generator is being employed for starting the engine: but after the engine is started, and While the engine is driving the motor-generator to reduce current for charging the storage iattery, the rollers a are inoperative and are not in action, the brake shoes 5* being depended upon at this time to transmit power from the one clutch member A to the otber'clutch member Bfithus enabling the motor-generator to operate without any appreciable fluctuations in the speed thereof, notwithstanding that the automobile engine operates at a variable speed. The brake shoes Z) are preferably provided with can bon blocks or inserts Z for engaging-the ring a, and said ring is preferably of cast iron or steel or some other metal which will show no appreciable wear, but which to the contrary will take. on a high polish as l v i a result of its contact with the carbon of the brake shoes. With the provision of the rollers a, and cams a which cooperate therewith, it is found that various difiiculties or objections are overcome or greatly reduced, such as back-lash, joltingand jarring, etc, in stopping and starting, that the various functions of the mechanism as a whole are notdnterfered with in any way whatsoever.

What I claim as my invention is 1. A clutch mechanism comprising two rotary members for alternatelycommunicating power to each other, engaging means by which one member commumcatespower to the other member, and friction means by which power is communicated from said other member to the one member, said mem bers rotating in the same direction for both transmissions of power.

means being "disposed radially outside of said engaging means.

- 3. A clutch mechanism comprising two r0- tary members for alternately communicating power to each other, engaging means by which one member communicates power to the other member, and friction means by which power is communicated from said other member to the one member, said memmeat ca bers rotating in the same direction for both transmissions of power, and said means ineluding a friction shoe with a pivotally mounted, flexible end portion, and a spring for yieldingly holding the other end of said shoe in position.

4. A clutch mechanism comprising two ro tary. members for alternately communicating power to each other, engaging means by which one member communicates power to the other member, and friction means by which power is communicated from said other member to the one member, said members rotating in the same direction for both transmissionsof power, said friction means including a friction ring which is removable from the clutch and removable inserts for engaging said ring.

5. A clutch mechanism for connecting: an internal combustion engine With the motorgcnerator of an electric starter, comprising two menibe'rs arranged to rotate about a common axis, one said member having means for receiving power from the engine, the other member having means for rcceiving power from the motor-generator, the ro tation of said members being always in the same direction, a friction ring for the one member, a friction ring on said other member, cams on the one member, rollers interposed between said cams and the friction ring of said other member, a brake ,slioe engaging the friction ring of said one member, to transmit power from said other memher to the one member, a spring acting in opposition to centrifugal force to reduce the effective pressure of said shoe the speed of rotation increases, and vice versa said members being supported for relative movement. said rollers and cams cjoiiperating to rotate the one member when said other member is driven by the motor-generator to start the engine, and said cams permitting the one member to rotate faster than said other member after the engine is started, said cams being disposed between said rings, and the ring of said other member being inside of said rollers.

6. fi clutch mechanism for connecting an internal combustion engine With the motorgenerator of an electric starter, comprising two members arranged to rotate about a common axis, one said member having means for receiving power from the engine, the other member having means for receiving power from the motor-generator, the rotation of said members bein always in the same direction, a friction ring for the one member, a friction ring on said other member. cams on the one member, rollcrs interposed between said cams and the, friction ring of said other member, a brake shoe engaging the friction ring of said one member, to transmit power from said other In :nber to the one member, a spring acting in opposition to centrifugal force to reduce the efi'ective pressure of said shoe as the speed of rotation increases, and vice versa, said members being supported for relative movement, said rollers and cams cooperating to rotate the one member when said other member is driven by the motor-generator to start the engine, and said cams permitting the one member to rotate faster than said other member after the engine is started,

cams having pockets at one end thereof to hold the rollers out of action While the engine is rotating the one member faster than said shoe is rotating said other memother member having means for receiving power from themotor-generator, the rotation of said members being always in the same direction, a friction ring for the one member, a friction ring on said other member, cams on the one member, rollers interposed between said cams and the friction ring of said other member, a brake shoe engaging the trio ion ring of said one member, to transmit power from said other member to the one member, a spring acting in opposition to centrifugal force to reduce the effective pressure of said shoe as the speed of rotation increases, and vice versa, said memhere being supported for relative movement, said rollers and cams cooperating to rotate the one member when said other member is driven by the motor-generator to start the engine, and said cams permitting the one member to rotate faster than said other member after the engine is started, said rings having smooth peripheries for engaging said roller and shoe, and said cams being disposed between said shoe and rollers.

S. A clutch mechanism for connecting-an internal combustion engine With the motorgenerator of an electric starter, comprising two members arranged to rotate about a common axis, one said member having means for receiving power from the engine, the other member having means for receiving POWQI from the motor-generator, the rotation olsaid members being always in the same direction, a friction ring for the one. member. a friction ring on said other member. cams on the one member. rollers interposed between said cams and the Friction ring of said other member, a brake shoe engaging the Friction ring of said one member, t.) transmit power from said other member to the one member, a spring acting in opposition to centrifugal force to reduce the effective pressure of said shoe as the speed of rotation increases, and vice ersa, said members being supported for relative movesaid cams, and a removable plate balding ment, said rollers a nd cams coiiperating to said rollers against displacement. it; fotate the one member when. said other mem- Signed by meet Beundbrook, New Jersey, ber is driven by the motor-generator to start this 22d day 01": September, 1914.

the engine, and said cams permitting the one NILLIAM T. HENEiLEY, member to rotate faster than said other Witnesses:

member after the engine is started, the frie- FLORENCE A. HQSKING,

- tion ring for said shoe tightly. encircling I-L S. S'UYDAM. 

